One of the most common reasons our Juneau, AK and Bothell, Monroe, Mill Creek and Everett braces and Invisalign patients visit us is for spacing. Spacing, sometimes referred to as “gap teeth” in layman’s terms and diastema in doctor speak, is when there are spaces or gaps between two or more teeth. 

When it comes to how to fix gaps in the teeth, the first step is to have your smile evaluated by an orthodontist like Dr. Richard Chan. When you visit us for a braces or Invisalign consultation, Dr. Chan will perform an exam and take necessary diagnostic records in order to develop an accurate diagnosis and determine the underlying cause of your orthodontic concerns. He will then create a personalized treatment plan to close the gaps between the teeth for a beautiful, healthy smile and a functional bite.  Read More

You’re in braces treatment, you check out your smile in the mirror, and you notice your gums look red, inflamed, and swollen. Is it par for the course during orthodontic treatment or is it a sign of an oral health issue that needs to be addressed? To give you peace of mind and help you determine what’s normal and what isn’t, our Juneau, AK, Bothell, Monroe, Mill Creek, and Everett, WA orthodontist is sharing everything you need to know about braces and your gums.  Read More

The Ultimate Guite To Floss With Braces

When our Alaska, Bothell, Monroe and Mill Creek braces patients first kick-off treatment, we always teach them exactly how to take care of their braces and their smile. Of course, knowing what to do and actually learning new techniques are two different things. For most people, figuring out how to floss with braces takes the most getting used to. To help give you a better idea, we’ll be sharing everything you need to know about flossing with your hardware.  Read More

3D Printed Dental Retainers

While 3D printing in orthodontics really began in earnest over two decades ago with the advent of Invisalign®, it has become more commonplace in recent years. In fact, at Richard Chan Orthodontics, we have a 3D printer in our office that we use to customize 3D printed retainers for our patients using advanced, thermoplastic material.  Read More

Clear retainers, technically known as Essix retainers and sometimes referred to as Invisalign retainers, are made of smooth, clear, BPA-free plastic. The custom, removable appliance slips over your teeth and most people won’t notice you’re wearing it. 

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Can you drink coffee with clear braces? Can you drink with Invisalign aligners in your mouth? Why is soda bad for braces? These are some of the questions we get from our Everett, Bothell, Monroe and Mill Creek Invisalign and braces patients. While most people have a pretty good idea of the ins and outs of eating with orthodontic appliances, not everyone is as well versed when it comes to beverages. To help give you a better idea of what you should know about drinking with Invisalign or braces, we’re covering some of the most common beverage-related questions. 

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Common Teeth Problems Diagnosis

Can I get braces for an anterior crossbite? Can Invisalign fix an overbite? We get a lot of questions like these from our Alaska, Bothell, Monroe, Mill Creek and Everett, WA Invisalign and braces patients before they start treatment. As a certified specialist in orthodontics, Dr. Richard Chan specializes in diagnosing, preventing and treating malocclusions, or problems with the size, positioning and alignment of the teeth and jaws. Of course, orthodontic treatment is focused on straightening the teeth and creating a beautiful smile for every patient, but we also want to design the most functional bite (how the upper and lower teeth fit together). While each patient is unique and you could even have a combination of problems, these are the most common bite issues we address. 

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When you get your braces removed or take out your final Invisalign tray, it’s a big moment! As our Alaska, Monroe, Mill Creek, Bothell and Everett, WA Invisalign and braces patients will tell you, it’s exciting to see your final results. While it might seem like your orthodontic treatment is complete, there’s actually one more step and that’s wearing a retainer (or retainers). We promise, the outcome will be totally worth it. To help give you a better idea of what to expect, we’ll be covering why wearing a retainer is important and what the different types of retainers are.

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Invisalign is a convenient, comfortable way to get your dream smile. Yet, there are still things you’ll have to do (and avoid) to get the best possible results. As an Alaska, Bothell, Monroe, Mill Creek and Everett orthodontist, I’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about Invisalign when you start treatment. By following the instructions and keeping your aligners and smile in tip-top shape, you’ll breeze through the process using best way to clean dental retainers. Here are some of the key dos and don’ts of wearing Invisalign and best way to clean dental retainers. Read More